northern arizona university phd applied linguistics

• English Department
• Doctoral Degree in Applied Linguistics

PhD in Applied Linguistics

• Corpus linguistics
• English linguistics
• Linguistics skills
• Curriculum & program evaluation
• Grammar and vocabulary
• Grammatical variation
• Language testing and assessment
• Psycholinguistics
• Research methods
• Register and discourse analysis
• Second language acquisition
• Second language listening and speaking
• Second language reading and writing
• Speech perception and production
• Spoken discourse
• World Englishes

Why pursue an Applied Linguistics doctorate at NAU?

Personal faculty-student relationships.

Our faculty  work closely with individual students, helping them to develop as colleagues in applied linguistics.  As a result, our Applied Linguistics PhD students have an outstanding record of publication and participation in major conferences such as TESOL and AAAL. Graduates of our program have also been highly successful at obtaining tenure-track faculty positions at major universities.

Outstanding research labs

Faculty and student research is supported by our three labs, the Corpus Research Lab, the Applied Linguistics Speech Lab, and the Language and Memory Lab, as well as the Program in Intensive English (PIE),  all of which assist students in developing their applied linguistics skills .

Corpus Research Lab Accordion Closed

Undergraduate, graduate, and visiting scholars actively participate in cutting-edge corpus research. The lab has an extensive collection of corpus holdings, some of which are only available to NAU researchers and visiting scholars. We also have a suite of corpus tools available. For more information, visit the  Corpus Research Lab website  or contact Dr. Randi Reppen .

Applied Linguistics Speech Lab (ALSL) Accordion Closed

Both undergraduate and graduate students actively participate in empirical research through hands-on experience in the ALSL. Using facilities in the speech lab, students have opportunities to analyze speech production and perception data, observe speech signals, and verify their effects on speech perception. The ALSL is equipped with advanced speech acquisition and processing equipment and software. Find more information on the  Speech Lab’s website  or contact Dr. Okim Kang .

Language and Memory Lab Accordion Closed

The lab is equipped for chronometric, psychometric, and visual-world eye-tracking investigation of language learning and processing. Graduate students, undergraduate students, and visiting scholars can participate in ongoing projects or propose studies of their own. Our psycholinguistics and SLA courses and seminars serve as incubators for student projects. For more information, visit the  lab website  or contact Dr. Vedran Dronjic .

Program in Intensive English (PIE) Accordion Closed

Applied Linguistics and TESL students and faculty are able to propose and carry out research projects at the PIE. Historically, this research has resulted in numerous publications and presentations and has provided valuable evidence-based input into PIE’s curriculum and assessment practices. To find out more, visit the  PIE research page .

General Information

MA-TESL and PhD in Applied Linguistics Handbook

Department of English

Mailing address.

PhD in Applied Linguistics

Northern Arizona University

Introduction

Program outcome, career opportunities, english language requirements, about the school.

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Key Information

Campus location

Flagstaff, USA

Study format

Tuition fees

USD 41,571 / per year

Application deadline

Request info *

Earliest start date

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* Priority deadline: January 30. Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered an a space available basis. International students must apply on or before March 1st for fall admission.

Scholarships

Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies.

The Ph.D. program in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University is designed to prepare future professors, researchers and teacher trainers to work independently and in leadership positions with the learning and teaching of second languages, the analysis of language, and the design of language-related research.

What Can I Do with a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics?

The Ph.D. program in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University is designed to prepare future professors, researchers and teacher trainers to work independently and in leadership positions with the learning and teaching of second languages, the analysis of language, and the design of language-related research.

University Requirements

To receive a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses, from one or more disciplines, ranging from at least 60-109 units of graduate-level courses. Most plans require research, a dissertation, and comprehensive exams. All plans have residency requirements regarding time spent on the Flagstaff campus engaged in full-time study.

Upon completion of the Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, students will have:

• Advanced critical and analytical knowledge of the structure and uses of the English language, English language discourse processes and genres, the development of second language learning processes in their diverse cultural contexts, and the assessment of both language program effectiveness and individual language proficiency
• Ability to address issues of language learning in real-world settings
• Ability to address both language program effectiveness and individual language proficiency
• Ability to contribute to innovative and effective English language teaching practices in the State of Arizona and elsewhere
• Ability to integrate use of technology into language instruction and research
• Ability to synthesize information and approaches across a range of core topics in Applied Linguistics, such as language acquisition, language in society, English grammar, and the development of language curricula and programs
• Understanding of the many issues relevant to cross-cultural communication
• Comprehensive preparation and professional orientation for advanced research in Ph.D. programs
• Ability to design, conduct, analyze, and interpret original and important empirical research
• Ability to contribute as active professionals in Applied Linguistics and related fields
• Expertise and qualifications to contribute significantly in professorial positions to the growth and development of Applied Linguistics

Pursue a diverse range of issues in preparation for your career as a researcher, teacher trainer, or leader in fields related to teaching and learning second languages, including:

• Corpus linguistics
• Grammar and vocabulary
• Grammatical variation
• Language planning and policy
• Language testing and program evaluation
• Quantitative research methods
• Register and discourse analysis
• Second language acquisition
• Second language reading and writing
• Second language teaching and learning
• Speech perception and production
• Spoken discourse
• World Englishes

Our faculty works closely with individual students, helping them to develop as colleagues in applied linguistics. As a result, our Ph.D. students have an outstanding record of publication and participation in major conferences such as TESOL and AAAL. Graduates of our program have also been highly successful at obtaining tenure-track faculty positions at major universities.

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Shelley Staples

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Shelley Staples (PhD in Applied Linguistics, Northern Arizona University, 2014) teaches courses in the undergraduate English program, MA in TESL program, and Second Language Acquisition and Teaching PhD program. Her research focuses on the use of corpus-based discourse analysis (qualitative and quantitative computational text analysis) to investigate language use across spoken and written contexts. The purpose of her research is to understand how linguistic variation is related to situational factors and speaker characteristics, including register, first language, cultural background, and proficiency levels of second language speakers. In addition, her research aims to inform language teaching and assessment, particularly in the areas of English for Academic and Specific Purposes (EAP/ESP), which focus on teaching and learning in specific contexts. Her current projects focus on academic writing and health care communication.

Her publications include a 2015 monograph with John Benjamins, The Discourse of Nurse-Patient Interactions , a 2016 edited volume with Palgrave titled Talking at Work: Corpus-based Explorations of Workplace Discourse , and a 2021 co-authored book from Routledge, The Register-Functional Approach to Grammatical Complexity . Her journal articles can be found in such publications as Applied Linguistics , TESOL Quarterly , Journal of Second Language Writing , English for Specific Purposes , and English for Academic Purposes . She is the PI of two learner corpus projects, the Corpus and Repository of Writing ( Crow ) and Multilingual Corpus of Assignments—Writing and Speech ( MACAWS ).

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, PHD

On this page:.

At a Glance: program details

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

The PhD program in linguistics and applied linguistics focuses on the scientific study of human language and the application of that study to the human condition.

Students in this program select a research specialization in formal linguistics, applied linguistics or some combination within these fields of study.

The curriculum provides professional training in linguistics and applied linguistics with focused research in several linguistic subfields, including syntax, semantics, phonetics, phonology, pragmatics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, language contact and change, language planning, Indigenous American linguistics, language documentation and revitalization, second language acquisition, second language teaching and learning, teaching English to speakers of other languages, global Englishes and computer-assisted language learning.

The doctoral program in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics focuses on the study of human language and the application of that study to the human condition.  Students in this program will choose a research specialization which can be formal linguistics, applied linguistics, or some combination of these areas.  The curriculum will provide training in linguistics and applied linguistics with focused research in several areas such as phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.  Second language acquisition and second language teaching and learning, TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages), language contact and change, including World Englishes, are also research possibilities in addition to sociolinguistics, language planning, discourse analysis, language and cognition.

Matthew Prior , Director

Sheila Luna , Program Manager

Faculty in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Doctoral Examinations

Doctoral Procedures and Timeline

Teaching Assistantships

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a foreign language exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (18 credit hours) APL 555 Disciplinary Discourses (3) APL 601 Introduction to Applied Linguistics (3) LIN 511 Phonetics and Phonology (3) LIN 514 Syntax (3) LIN 515 American English (3) or LIN 516 Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis (3) LIN 655 Advanced Disciplinary Discourses in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics (3)

Electives and Research (33 credit hours) LIN 501 Approaches to Research (3)

Specialization (21 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) LIN 799 or APL 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. If students do not have a previously awarded master's degree, then 30 credit hours is made up of additional electives and research coursework which must include LIN 510, if they have not previously taken it or its equivalent.

Students must demonstrate evidence of competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student and subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the doctoral examinations. This requirement may be met by any of the following:

• earning a "B" or higher (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language
• demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student's supervisory committee
• demonstrating native-speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student's supervisory committee
• earning a "B" or higher (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or the equivalent of each
• holding a bachelor's degree in an approved foreign language
• having fulfilled a foreign language requirement toward a previously awarded master's degree that was completed within five years of the semester for which the student was admitted to the doctoral program
• two years (four semesters) of successfully completed college-level coursework (no more than six years prior to admission to the degree program) at least at the 100 and 200 levels with a "C" or better for languages which the School of International Letters and Cultures does not offer or does not offer above the 200 level

The foreign language requirement must be in a language approved by the student's doctoral supervisory committee.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• resume or curriculum vitae
• three letters of recommendation
• academic writing sample relevant to the field
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States must provide proof of English proficiency. Applications will not be processed without valid proof of English proficiency. More information about English proficiency requirements can be found the school website . Please note that official scores must be sent to ASU in order for the application to be processed.

The well-considered one- to two-page statement of purpose should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training, career goals, proposed research specialization, any secondary field of interest and why the applicant wishes to pursue a PhD in linguistics and applied linguistics at Arizona State University. Applicants applying for funding must also submit a statement of teaching philosophy.

Courses and Electives

The Doctor of Philosophy is a total of 84 hours. In general, a student with an appropriate master's degree must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours of approved graduate work, which includes 12 hours of dissertation. A student without an appropriate master's degree usually must complete 84 hours of work at ASU. At the advisor’s discretion, students may include up to 12 hours of appropriate, graduate-level course work undertaken at another university, and not previously counted towards any other degree.

Required Core Courses for the Degree

• LIN 511 Phonetics and Phonology
• LIN 514 Syntax
• LIN 515 American English or LIN 516 Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
• APL 555 Disciplinary Discourses
• APL 601  Introduction to Applied Linguistics
• LIN 655 Disciplinary Discourses

Elective/Research Courses

• LIN 501 Approaches to Research

Research Specialization (21 hours) :  Students choose a research specialization which can be formal linguistics, applied linguistics or a combination. Students can focus their elective and research coursework, including APL/LIN 790 on a specific area. Possible specializations in Linguistics are phonology, formal syntax and semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and pragmatics.  Possible specializations in Applied Linguistics are SLA theory and pedagogy, ESOL, second language writing, bilingualism, language policy, and issues in educational research.  Students may choose to take other 500 or equivalent and advanced (600 and above or equivalent) courses in their area of specialization.  Advanced LIN 600 level courses may be repeated for credit when topics vary. All students are encouraged to develop interdisciplinary perspectives which may be done by taking courses from other related programs or units to enhance their area of specialization. For example, students with interests in second language writing would expect to take related ENG courses in addition to LIN or APL offerings, and students interested in languages taught in  SILC (School of International Letters and Cultures) could take courses in that unit. Students must consult with an advisor when selecting additional courses for their focus area as these courses provide the depth of training needed for dissertation research.

Other Requirements

PhD Examinations :  Essay, oral exam, colloquy on the dissertation prospectus.

Dissertation : Students must take 12 credit hours of ENG 799.

Language Requirement : PhD students must demonstrate evidence of a competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student, subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the doctoral exams. This requirement may be met by

• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language.
• Demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Demonstrating native-speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or their equivalent.
• Holding a bachelor’s degree in an approved foreign language.
• Having fulfilled a foreign language requirement towards a previously awarded master’s degree that has been completed within five years of the semester for which the student has been admitted to the doctoral program. This foreign language must be in a language approved by the student’s doctoral supervisory committee.
• For languages which the School of International Letters and Cultures does not offer or does not offer above the 200 level, two years (4 semesters) of successfully completed college level coursework at least at the 100 and 200 level with a C or better would fulfill the requirement. The coursework must have been successfully completed no more than six years prior to admission to the degree program.

Miscellaneous : Students may take research (ENG 792) for the purpose of working independently in preparation for the doctoral examination. This is an alternative to be elected by the student at the discretion and with the approval of the advisor and supervisory committee and can count towards course work. Satisfactory completion of ENG 792 is indicated by the grade of "Y." Individual interim segments of ENG 792 will be graded "Z" (course in progress), and changed to "Y" (successful completion) after the dissertation defense. No conventional letter grades are awarded for ENG 792 or 799.

The Graduate College also requires that students be enrolled every semester, excluding summer sessions, until they have completed all requirements for the degree. Continuous enrollment may be satisfied by registration for one hour of ENG 799, or, in cases where dissertation or other credit hours are not needed, Continuous Registration (ENG 595 or 795). If students wish to interrupt their programs of study for one or more semesters, they may apply for a leave of absence, not to exceed one year. Failure to enroll or obtain leave status for the semesters in which they are not enrolled will result in dismissal from the program.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee

The doctoral supervisory committee consists of a minimum of three members from the  graduate faculty  selected at the time the student files a program of study. In consultation with the director of the Ph.D. program, the student will select the committee chair, who also serves as the student's advisor. Once a graduate faculty member has agreed to serve as the student's chair, the student and chair will then consult before recommending two other members to the director of the doctoral program. Ideally another member of the supervisory committee in addition to the chair should be in the area of specialization. It is the responsibility of each student to form a supervisory committee very early in the program so that the chair and members of the committee may be involved in shaping the course of study, for example, in determining such matters as the choice of foreign language(s) and in specifying courses that will be required for the student's particular area of concentration.

Important Notice to Current International Students

In order for international students to maintain good standing for their VISAs, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester (i.e., 3 classes), 6 credits (2 classes) should be face-to-face classes.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, learning outcomes.

• Independent research expertise: Students will be able to design and carry out an original research study in their discipline and subdisciplines.
• Scholarly writing expertise: Students will demonstrate the ability to produce written scholarly work at a level expected by the profession and consistent with the degree program.
• Critical analysis expertise: Students will demonstrate the ability to explain, synthesize and critique existing scholarship in their research area.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with research expertise in linguistics and applied linguistics work in a variety of professional contexts, such as academia, government, business, health care, legal settings, publishing, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

• computer-assisted language learning expert
• data analyst
• forensic linguist
• language policy or documentation expert
• language program director or coordinator
• language researcher
• linguistic consultant
• program and curriculum developer
• teacher trainer
• university professor

Global Opportunities

Global experience.

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-3194

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Core courses.

In the first semester, students take the following two courses:

In addition to LING 503 and LING 510, students must take five courses of the following areas.

Computation Linguistics

• Language Revitalization

Psycholinguistics

Foundational, syntax/semantic, typology/morphology, areas of specialization.

Students will also major in a specialization from the following areas, completing 36 total units. The requirements for these specializations will overlap with the core requirements. However, major and minor course specializations must not overlap:

• Computational linguistics
• Phonological Theory
• Psycholinguistics (developmental or adult)

For more information, please visit the Graduate Student Handbook.

Graduate Handbook

Other requirements

Two iterations of the required colloquium course, LING595A, are to be taken in the 1st and 2nd semesters, one unit each. These are important parts of graduate education. All other students may also enroll in the colloquium for additional semesters.

A minimum of two seminars is required. However, students are encouraged to attend all seminars that meet their curricular goals throughout their graduate career, and should consult with their advisor on the number and type of additional seminars to consider

Professionalism in Linguistics Requirement

There is a required one-credit course on professionalism, LING689, Professionalism in Linguistics, (separate from the comprehensive exam course) to be taken by the 6th semester.

Comprehensive & Oral Exams

Students are required to complete written and oral exams to demonstrate their expertise in their selected fields.

Minor Requirement

Students are required to complete 9 units in a minor. Minor specializations can be internal to Linguistics or from an external department.

Dissertation

Students must complete 18 units of dissertation coursework, conducting and defending original research.